Any disruptive auction stories?

(Here's mine - happened today)

It was just after lunch in a booming southern bayside Melbourne suburb. Almost the time of year you see towels on bare shoulders, eskies in hands and sand on the feet of those waiting for clumps of weekend cyclists to whizz past.

A small 2br villa behind a house was up for auction. As basic as you get (hardiplank cladding + asbestos roof) it was modernised inside. Being at the rear of three it had a large courtyard. 10 min from shops, transport and beach it would be the sort of thing a first homebuyer, downsizer or investor would snatch up. Almost the only place you'd get with a 3 in front of the price.

A fair crowd was milling around. No coffee, candles or dog smell-hiding incense but there was music. Not the light classical discreetly played inside but loud boomy stuff out the front. Neighbours would have been quite entitled to tell them to wind it back. (Don't engage the first person pronoun Aspendale Gardens agency that claims to be 'boutique in style, informal yet professional' if you disapprove of this approach)

The auction got under way after a very short preamble. A silly lowball of $200k came first, followed by a vendor bid. Agent reps were darting amongst the crowd. An inhabitant of the overgrown front house burst out shouting it was not worth $300k, which was where they were at. He lunged and grabbed the auctioneer, a melee threatened then he was tackled and brought down by a bystander. Another, possibly known, shepherded him the 10 metres home.

The auctioneer retained remarkable poise, and after commenting that people are fighting to buy it continued. Would a nutter neighbour have taken thousands off its worth? Anyway I heard neither the words 'passed in' or claps to the successful bidder. So I assume the former had taken place - at $320k.

Goes to show that the unpredictable can happen at auctions - and we're not just talking of sales prices way above pre-auction quotes!

 

I wonder if I'm the only person that has to google the definition of the word "melee" . Either way, sounds like a very entertaining auction... I'd love to have seen it ! I've seen developer types turn up in the cheapest available suits on the market and disrupt auctions with questions such as "Mister Auctioneer... could you clarify where the rear boundary is?" followed by "Yes I've read the vendor statement but I'm sure the other bidders would like to know the rear boundary is not where the fence is". Naturally followed by red faced panic amongst the bidders.

 

That's great. But doesn't beat the one where a couple are making love in a neighbouring house and the auctioneer kept turning toward the house yelling "are we done". The crowd were in hysterics.

 

Several years ago now,but went down too Tenterfield for the sale of many properties for unpaid rates for several years at the council chambers ..Most were withdraw as the outstanding funds were paid the day before,but they only tell everyone just before the auction starts..Auction starts some blocks went for less the 3k,one large blocks comes up several titles ,next thing one man stands up and tell everyone your not selling my block,police come in from standing down the back few local call him a ****** his wife starts going off at everyone as the auction just keeps going on..

 

I've been at one where an interested bidder gave a bit of a speech how one room was not "council compliant due to a low ceiling" and could be counted as a bedroom noting that he was as builder. The agent muttered something about "never heard that before". I ended up buying that one.

Was at another one where a lady had a large spider on her blouse which she was unaware of.

If dabbled as at being disruptive by having deliberate negative conversations with a friend about the problems with the property etc hoping other bidders would be affected. Not sure how effective that was.

 

entertaining thread! keep them coming

 

All those $10 bids were a big turn on

 

I've heard auctioneers rightly point out that the person making some onerous comment is likely to be the eventual buyer.

I had a co-worker at a commercial auction whose buyer literally ran away after their winning bid. Talk about sudden cold feet.

 

Would be an interesting story if the facts were correct. He did not lung and grab the auctioneer, but he did go and raise a fist in a threatening manner. At this time he was wrestled to the ground by one bystander and that same bystander escorted him back to his house.
The more troubling issue was that at no time did anyone else in attendance help or even assist the bystander.

 

It's funny.. its like people watch this forum meticulously to then sign up to make one post to negate the comment of someone else. I'd suggest you a) weren't there and b) heard a different story from someone else.
Why sign up to make that one post? Perhaps contribute?
Are you related to the numpty that went for the auctioneer? Are YOU that said numpty?

 

Oh dear my first auction experience was boring in comparison! I was expecting it to be so exciting and nerve-racking...it was neither.

 

I had a similar incident with my PPOR just before handover. Issue with the brickwork at the garage entry. It was at a 7am meeting and I was standing on the driveway with the builder's sales manager and a brickie. The conversation was interrupted by the noise from the couple next door. No trouble hearing it as their front window was open and we were only about 4 meters away. None of us could keep a straight face and hysterics ensued.

 

I obviously live in the wrong suburbs

 

Some might actually pay more for this feature.

 

I went to an auction in Perth. I was standing up the back near a group who had made a few bids. The auctioneer suspended the auction and came over to the group for a chat. The group had put in an offer prior to the auction and had been knocked back. Problem is the bidding had stalled at a lower price. The conversation quickly escalated into yelling with accusations from both sides. That auctioneer really got stuck into those buyers and they walked away. Auction failed at a lower price than the pre auction offer. Entertaining!